Saturday, 29 May 2004

Any news item beginning with the words "Scientists in America....." is probably going to tell you something you'd rather not know (and "Scientists in Japan..." is even more ominous). This time, the news is that they are asking permission to go ahead with face transplants.

Among the possibilities which may arise are face-donor cards, though there would have to be a code of practice for people walking around with someone else's visage, recommending that they do not, for example, burst into the funeral of the donor and shout: "Surprise!"

And of course you won't have to be dead to lose face; people who fancy a change after a few years will be able to stick their passport photos up on eBay and see if anyone wants a swap.